Game apparatus



Jan. 9, 1923.. 1,441,547

J. H. VENHOFF. GAME APPARATUS. FILED MAY 16, 1922.

w E \Jr 5 J j 2 241 15 gnvamkw A @MHFEZEZQ Patented den. 9, 1923s erases tinse c erics GAME arranli'rns.

Application filed May r6,

To all whom it may concern: i

Be it known that l, JOHN H. Vnnnorr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, o'l which the :lfollowlng is a specification. f i 1 This invention relates game apparatus consisting of a miniature bowling alley and dot gned for indoor use.

The invention has for its ohjectto provide in a game apparatus of the hind stated a novel and improved surface projectile to take the place oi. the halls used on an or dinary bowling alley, and also to provide novel and improved means for accurately and rapidly spotting the pins on the pin held.

With, the object stated in view, the invention cons is in a combinatio and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, and in order that the same may be better uiu'lerstood, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

liguro l. is a side elevation oi the apparatus; Fig. 3 is a plan view; 3 is a longitudinal section on the line fil of Fig. 2; l ig, t is an enlarged longitiulinal section of the pin field, illustrating the operation of the spotting device, and Fig. is a perspective view of the surface projectile used in playing the game. i

The preferred emboi'linient of the invention has been disclosed, but it will be understood that various minor cl'ianges and noodlfications in the structural details may be made without a departure "from thespirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

llelierring specifically to the drawing, 10

substantially coni- SQand it is the players finger 10 and knock the direction or thepin field 12. In going down the alley the resistance of the air pressing against the inclined surface has a tendency to hold the block down on the alley and prevent it from jumping. l

The alley 10 is composed or a strip of wood. or other material mounted on a base board 15 which may be made somewhat wulcrthan the strip forming the alleyor runway forthe projectile ll, and at the longitudinal edges oi? the base board are upstanding guard rails 16 to prevent the projectile from leaving" the base board. linniediatelyto the rear of the pin field 12, the railslt are inadehigher, as shown at 17, and are connected at their rear extremities by a transverse wall 18. The parts 17 and it; form the side and end walls of an enclosure located to the rear of the pin field, and serving to receive the pins 13 as they are l il'lUClUWl down by the projectile 11.

The base board 15 stops short of the rear edge of the pin field 19 so as to leave the pin lield projecting from the rear end of the base hoard. In the recess thus formed heneath the pin field is located a plate 19 which projects rearwardly from the same far enough to torinthe floor or" the enclosure produced by the walls 1'? and 18. In the pin field are vertical apertures 20 extending completely therethrough and adapted to he entered by upstanding pins 21 on the top a of the plate The apertures 20 are grouped to correspond to the grouping of the pins 18 when they areproperly set up. When the pins 21 are properly seated in the apertures 20, thev are flush at the top with the surface of the pin field as shown in Fig. 3,

and the pins 15 will be placed on the spots defined by said pins 21.

The plate 19 forms a rear continuation of ti e base board 15, but these parts are separate and movable vertically relative to each other for the purpose ofinserting the pins 2i into the apertures 20 and for withdrawing the same. To the side edges of the plate 19 are secured guide strips 22 which extend upwardly to seat alongside the outer faces ol the walls and receive outstanding pins by slightly lifting up on the'walls 17 or 18. 1

The pins 13 are now placed in the apertures 21, the upper ends of the latter being.

slightly flared so that the pins may enter the same for a short distance as shown in Fig. 4:. The pins 13 being now properly spotted, the portion or" the apparatus which was raised from the table or other supporting surface is allowed to lower, whereupon the pins 21 re-enter the apertures 20 and push the pins 13 out of the same, the extent of the relative movement of the parts being such that the pins 21 come flush with the surface of the pin field'12, as shown in Fig. 3. Each pin 13 is now seating on the upper end of a pin 21 flush with the surfaceof the other, upstanding guard rails at the side edges of the base and separate from the rear portion thereof, vertically slotted guide strips carried by the rear base portion and positioned alongside the corresponding portion of the guard rails, and pins extending outwardly from said rear portion of the guard rails into the slots of the strips.

, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JOHN H. VENI-IOFF. 

